England’s Women are European champions, beat Brazil to the 2023 Finalissima at a packed-out Wembley and have won 27 of their 31 games under Sarina Wiegman’s management.
Yet a series of injuries, including to captain Leah Williamson, Euros Golden Boot winner and Player of the Tournament Beth Mead, and Chelsea record goalscorer Fran Kirby, have started to temper previously lofty expectations for the 2023 World Cup.
However, England’s victory over favourites and reigning champions USA in October suggests they will still have a solid chance of lifting the trophy.
England’s World Cup squad announcement
Wiegman will announce England’s World Cup squad on Wednesday 31 May, at around 2pm.
The Lionesses are in Group D for the tournament in Australia and New Zealand, where they will play Haiti, Denmark and China.
They open their campaign against Haiti at 10.30am BST on 22 July, before facing Denmark at 9.30am on 28 July and China at 12pm on 1 August.
While Mead will almost certainly be omitted – Wiegman admitted she would need “a miracle” to recover from her ACL in time – she said in a recent interview with The Times that she had not totally given up on making it onto the plane, however unlikely it may be.
Who will be in England Women’s World Cup squad?
While the injuries to Mead, Kirby and Williamson have left more question marks over the squad than at the Euros, Wiegman still has a core of her regulars who will definitely be heading Down Under.
In goal, Mary Earps will continue as England’s first-choice stopper. Millie Bright remains a major doubt as she
with the returning Millie Bright ahead of her. Alex Greenwood may well fill in as Bright’s partner, although the Man City defender could also be used as first-choice left-back given Rachel Daly’s exceptional form up front.
Despite undergoing recent knee surgery, Lucy Bronze will be England’s starting right-back, while the midfield trio of Keira Walsh, Georgia Stanway and Ella Toone should remain unbroken.
The greatest uncertainty remains over Wiegman’s forward trio. Lauren James, Alessia Russo and Chloe Kelly are perhaps the most obvious three, but WSL top scorer Daly could also secure a starting berth.
How to replace Leah Williamson
By Katherine Lucas, i sports journalist
The loss of Williamson the captain is perhaps just as significant as the loss of Williamson the centre-back. The upshot is that she is not the only member of the squad used to wearing the armband. Bronze has captained the side previously and Wiegman had stalled while deciding who would replace ex-skipper Steph Houghton on a permanent basis, before ultimately giving the gig to Williamson.
In a best-case scenario, Wiegman will be able to call upon a fit-again Millie Bright to lead the defence, though there are question marks over her fitness too and she has recently been on crutches, missing the end of Chelsea’s WSL season.
There are contingency plans, at least, with Lotte Wubben-Moy or Jess Carter set to fill in.
Alex Greenwood would be the obvious partner but with Rachel Daly now playing up front, that would risk leaving England short at left-back, unless Carter or Manchester City’s Esme Morgan are deployed there.
If England do need more cover on the left, any of Aston Villa’s Maz Pacheco, Everton’s Gabby George, Liverpool’s Taylor Hinds or Manchester United’s Hannah Blundell have been linked with a call-up. The likelihood is that will come much later, with Wiegman reluctant to take any big risks in her World Cup squad.
Manchester United’s versatile Maya Le Tissier could play as a right-sided centre-back, while other options include West Ham’s Lucy Parker, who can also play at full-back. If Wiegman wants experience, there is always the possibility of recalling the exiled Houghton, albeit the England boss admitted recently that is unlikely and relations between them have become increasingly strained.
Lauren Hemp and in-form Beth England are also options. Spurs forward England fell out of favour towards the end of her time at Chelsea but has become the WSL’s third-highest goalscorer of 2022-23 since moving across the capital.
Jess Park, the 21-year-old Everton forward on loan from Man City, is another option who has already featured twice in 2023 after scoring on her debut against Japan last November.
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